Philippine Legislator Wants To Tax Bad Breath, Body Odor

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – If a bill proposed by a Philippine legislator is approved, Filipinos with bad breath and body odor will have to pay an additional tax.

In an effort to avert the negative effects of increasing the excise tax on petroleum products, Representative Rodel Batocabe proposed instead to tax beauty and cosmetic products and procedures.

In his proposal, Batocabe included “cosmetic products, or any substance or preparation intended to be placed in contact with the various external parts of the human body or with the teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, with a view exclusively or mainly cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their appearance, and/or correcting body odor, and/or protecting the body or keeping them in good condition.”